Then that frightful night came where Anne saved Minnie May's life. Gilbert, when realising the absence of BOTH his recent female companions felt quite alone that day at school. The other boys played ball in the field, he sat quietly and started to read the next scene of the Shakespeare play he and Anne had been dramatically acting out the previous day. Josie Pye came and plopped herself down next to him.

"Shakespeare!" She exclaimed looking at his book, "How very romantic Gilbert."

Gilbert face screwed at this statement and looked to make sure the front page matched the inside text. King Lear? Yes, it definitely was. Romantic was the last way he would describe it. He didn't mean to laugh at her ignorance but there was a slight chuckle which left him.

"Have you read it?" he asked.

"Why would I read it?" She asked scornfully. "Besides if it's any good they'll only make a play out of it."

His mind boggled with her last statement… he laughed a little "Wait? What? You're kidding right?" he asked but she took the book out his hand "Hey!" he exclaimed. "That's mine!" she tossed it to one side.

"There's much more interesting things then books Gilbert." She flirted. "You spend all that time with your head in books with that 'Anne' girl… You're three years older than she is.."

"2 years 8 months…" he muttered.

"You need to find a beau closer to your own age." She said smiling sweetly. "I'm younger then you by 3 months, maybe you would like to get someone your own age."

His mind confused for a moment "who said anything about beaus?" Gilbert asked. "She's my friend Josie we like a lot of the same things…"

"Oh that's not what will matter when you look for a beau." She said still fluttering her eyelashes at him.

Really? I always thought that was exactly what mattered he thought.. He was still too polite to say anything to her so he stood up excused himself and picked up his book. No one messed with his books.

The walk out to green gables seemed longer without his friends chatting to him, but he really didn't mind, he had armed with him the work Anne had missed at school. He thought between the two of them he could easily help her catch up. He was barely at the gate when he saw Anne run towards him.

"Anne!" he said surprised to see her run so fast. Where were you today, I missed you, I have all your work I figured we could catch you up tonight, I've already been home father said I could stay until 10pm as long as Matthew was supervising us, he'll come and get me in the buggie. Do you think he would?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure!" Anne said excitingly but I must go to Diana first Gil!" she said out of breath.

"Woe there Anne, hold on a second? What do you mean?"

"Oh I suppose we can walk I'll tell you everything."

As they walked towards the Barry's home Anne explained everything which had happened to Minnie May and how she knew what to do and the circumstances around how she knew and how Mrs Barry had been round to ask for her forgiveness. Gilbert's heart leapt to see Anne so happy. It seemed a weight had been lifted from her. She seemed happy.

"Oh Gil, it was so thoughtful bringing round my work for me, to be honest I was struggling with my geometry last night before Diana came…"

"Well we're lucky its Saturday tomorrow, tell you what.. he suggested. "go to Diana, enjoy your friendship no longer being a secret, can I come by tomorrow? We'll set to work then, I'm sure that will give us enough time and I'll help with your geometry."

"Can you make it tomorrow afternoon?" She asked. "I long to spend some time with Diana!" she said dreamily.

"That's fine by me, then I can get my chores done before I come."

"Oh thank you Gil! I really can't imagine how miserable I would have been through this without you!" she hugged into his side then ran off towards Diana's. He smiled and sighed. The last two and a bit months they really had become very close, with both if their free time spent solely on each other, either on the porch or in the kitchen at Green Gables, he knew they would spend less time together. But she will be so much happier he thought as he walked back home. And that's all that matters really.

"Anne what's the matter with you?" He asked her "You're not concentrating."

It was one of the few nights Gilbert had come over the following week and Anne seemed to have no ability to focus.

"I just can't concentrate, I need somewhere with a bit more scope for the imagination then the porch or the kitchen." She stood up and walked into the kitchen, Gilbert turned and walked in behind her.

"Please Marilla, I need somewhere with more imagination and Gil and I have been doing nothing but studying and reading these past three months, I don't understand why we need supervising. Please Marilla nothing will come of it please just let us go somewhere more imaginative?"

"You wouldn't see why its might be inappropriate, people think girls and boys get up to all sorts when they are alone and I don't want you making a scandal out of yourself or Gilbert for that matter."

"We walk to school plenty alone together and no one sees any harm in that, how is studying different. Please Marilla, I can't concentrate."

Marilla looked to Gilbert. The same terrified look on his face the day he first walked into Green Gables. Could she trust the boy? "Nowhere off the beaten track Anne, somewhere public." She told her. "And you Gilbert, I'm trusting you with her care, do you understand?" all he could muster was a nod. Anne had already ran out the door to retrieve her bags.